Flexible Space Most ships have dedicated conference facilities for meetings, plus multi-purpose loun

For their recent Meetings Groups Research Whitepaper , Destination Hotels Resorts surveyed a diverse group of 380 planners from around the United car rentals in boston States. Their answers reveal what's most important to planners when it comes to choosing a venue for their meetings, and gives us insight into industry trends we can expect to see in 2013.
But let's not forget about "floating hotels"! Cruise ships are cost-effective, unique venues for all types of meeting and events. Read on for a brief recap of Destination Hotel Resorts "State of the Industry 2013 Trend Forecast" , along with our examples of how cruise lines are staying ahead of the curve.
Location with more than two dozen "close to home" U.S. ports, planners can find a ship convenient for attendee, whether they choose to drive or fly. Added bonus: Depart from a domestic port, visit several international destinations (and only unpack once).
Flexible Space Most ships have dedicated conference facilities for meetings, plus multi-purpose lounges for breakouts and receptions, theaters with cutting-edge multi-media equipment for presentations and award ceremonies. Meeting space plus use of AV is included with your cruise.
While "going green" is not a new trend, car rentals in boston more planners are questioning the environmental impact of their meetings. According to the report, "meeting planners are well ahead of the general leisure travel market in evaluating green practices are part of their booking decision."
Cruise Industry:  The cruise lines have a variety of environmentally innovative programs in place, from switching to low energy LED lights, using recycled hot water to heat passenger cabins, to using special window tinting that keep passageways cooler and utilize less air conditioning. Other eco-friendly car rentals in boston efforts include rigorous recycling programs, high-efficiency appliances, and advanced propulsion and hull design to maximize energy efficiency.
More than 78% of planners identified culinary offerings as an important part of their selection process.   Healthy, nutritious options (43%) and specialized dietary choices (35%) are what matter most. Planners want attendees to have "a memorable meal that also leaves them feeling strong and alert."
Cruise Ships: car rentals in boston During a meeting at sea, attendees can dine in a variety of indoor/outdoor venues. They'll find ample healthy food selections; spa menus; and fresh, locally-sourced and sustainable cuisine. More examples of culinary trends at sea:
Oceania   Cruises -  As many as 6 gourmet restaurants serve some of the finest meals at sea, at no additional charge. Marina and Riviera offer the only custom-designed, hands-on cooking school at sea.
Cruise Meetings:  Cruise ships offer unique team-building opportunities, both on board and ashore complimentary or at minimum cost. From rock-climbing or golf tournaments at sea, to beach Olympics or scavenger hunt on a cruise line "private island", planners can create memorable experiences that simply can't be duplicated at a land-based hotel. For example:
Royal Caribbean car rentals in boston : Take advantage car rentals in boston of exciting sports facilities on Oasis-class ships for your team events, car rentals in boston including: private use of the basketball court with hosted activities, private FlowRider lessons, private use of rock wall, mini-golf tournament, exclusive use of ice rink, or ZipLine instruction.
Norwegian Cruise Line : Norwegian Breakaway's three-story sports complex boasts the largest ropes course at sea to challenge your attendees car rentals in boston with more than 40 different elements, including a zip track.
Cruise Ships: Cruise lines recognize the power of social media. They're using Facebook, Blogs, car rentals in boston YouTube, Pinterest and Twitter to engage with guests, post behind-the-scenes videos, share experiences, and build customer loyalty and satisfaction. What does this mean for your event at at sea? More buzz, greater pre-event excitement, and stronger attendance.
Just in case you still think social media and cruises don t mix: Last month, prominent members of South Florida's social media community met onboard car rentals in boston Norwegian Sky for the second annual #SeaTweetup Cruise. Guests tweeted, posted to Facebook, and blogged on board and at special events in port during a weekend of fun and networking in a relaxed, entertaining environment.
Planners indicate that integrating technology into meetings remains one of their biggest challenges. More than 36% noted increased technology use compared car rentals in boston to a year ago. Technology needs are putting new strains on budgets, with meeting planners creating a technology budget to go along with AV budget.
Meeting At Sea: Today s ships offer pervasive, high-speed Internet access (many from bow to stern), as well as cell phone connectivity. Many cruise lines are willing to negotiate group Internet packages, so your attendees can tweet, blog, or update social media platforms in real-time.
Why pay extra for your audio and visual needs? Cruise ships feature state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, and theaters are equipped with the latest multi-media technology. All included along with refreshment breaks. The tremendous amount of money you save on A/V, decor, stage and sound set-up more than offsets Wi-Fi charges during your event.
SeaDream deluxe, all-inclusive yachts for meetings, car rentals in boston incentives | SeaSite Blog Cruise Events car rentals in boston Forum on Rare Mediterranean Yacht Gem Great Value for World s Best 10 Reasons to Choose Celebrity Ships for Meetings, Incentives | SeaSite Blog Cruise Events Forum on Celebrity Reflection is a Planner s Dream, with New Conference Space and More Why meeting planners choose Royal Caribbean ships for events | SeaSite Blog Cruise Events Forum on Watch Royal Caribbean Reinvent WOW with Vertical Theater and More Carnival Cruises celebrates 40 years, milestones and future plans | SeaSite Blog Cruise Events Forum on Fun Ship 2.0: The Half-Billion Dollar Experience Best new technology innovations found on cruise car rentals in boston ships | SeaSite Blog Cruise Events Forum on Meeting Planners: The Sea is Calling Answer it Royally!